U.S. patent application number 11/402265 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for control device for use in injection molding machine.
Invention is credited to Hiroshi Katsuta, Yasumasa Sugiyama, Masamitsu Suzuki, Toshihiro Tanaka, Ryoji Tominaga.
Application Number | 20060241805 11/402265 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37085216 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060241805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katsuta; Hiroshi ; et
al. |
October 26, 2006 |
Control device for use in injection molding machine
Abstract
In an injection molding machine configured to extrude a melted
resin under temperature control and inject the resin into metal
molds to provide a molded product, there are provided an HMI
section having a built-in general-purpose operating system and
configured to control a display section equipped with a touch
panel, control modules, such as a main control section, a sequence
processing section and a servo command section, having a dedicated
microprocessor for each control element of the injection molding
machine, and a driver section having servo amplifiers, hydraulic
drivers, and so on, configured to be controlled by the control
modules and to drive-control an actuator of the injection molding
machine, in which, by variously combining together the control
modules, it is possible to provide various kinds of
injection-molding machines, that is, an electric operation type, a
hydraulic type and a hybrid type of these combination.
Inventors: |
Katsuta; Hiroshi;
(Gotemba-Shi, JP) ; Sugiyama; Yasumasa;
(Numazu-shi, JP) ; Tominaga; Ryoji; (Hoffmann
Estates, IL) ; Tanaka; Toshihiro; (Tagata-gun,
JP) ; Suzuki; Masamitsu; (Numazu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY US LLP
P. O. BOX 9271
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Family ID: |
37085216 |
Appl. No.: |
11/402265 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/204 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 2945/76568
20130101; B29C 2945/76525 20130101; B29C 2945/76605 20130101; B29C
2945/76668 20130101; B29C 2945/76531 20130101; B29C 2945/76953
20130101; B29C 45/76 20130101; B29C 2945/76755 20130101; B29C
2945/76591 20130101; B29C 2945/76665 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/204 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 14, 2005 |
JP |
2005-1171148 |
Claims
1. A control device for use in an injection molding machine that
melts synthetic resin material and injects a predetermined amount
of molten synthetic resin material into a metal mold to obtain a
molded product, comprising: a plurality of exchangeable control
modules configured to be mutually connected by a bus line and
having a dedicated microprocessor for each control element in the
injection molding machine; a human/machine interface device
configured to be connected to one of the respective control modules
and having a general-purpose operating system configured to control
a display section; and a driver section configured to be connected
to one of the respective control modules to be controlled by the
connected control module and to drive-control an actuator of the
injection molding machine, in which said plurality of control
modules are configured to, in any combination, control the melting
of the synthetic resin material in a barrel of the injection
molding machine, control the an amount of the melted resin to be
injected, and control the injection of the measured resin from an
injection nozzle of the barrel.
2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein one of said
plurality of control modules is comprised of a main control section
configured to control each part and connected to the human/machine
interface device.
3. A control device according to claim 1, wherein one of said
plurality of control modules is comprised of a sequence processing
section configured to control an operation sequence of the
injection molding machine.
4. A control device according to claim 1, wherein one of said
plurality of control modules comprises a servo command section
connected to a driver section, said driver section being configured
to rotation-control a measuring servomotor configured to drive the
injection screw to inject a predetermined amount of the melted
resin and an injection servomotor configured to drive the injection
screw to inject the melted resin from the injection nozzle.
5. A control device according to claim 1, wherein one of said
plurality of control modules comprises a hydraulic I/O configured
to be connected to a driver section, the hydraulic I/O being
configured to control a hydraulic driver for driving the injection
screw to inject a predetermined amount of the melted resin and a
hydraulic driver for driving the injection screw to inject the
melted resin from the injection nozzle.
6. A control device according to claim 1, wherein a display section
controlled by the human/machine interface device is comprised of a
display section having a touch panel set on a liquid crystal
display screen.
7. A control device according to claim 2, wherein the main control
section is configured to, under a temperature control section,
control the temperature of the barrel for allowing the melting of
the synthetic resin material through the application of heating.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-117148,
filed Apr. 14, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a control apparatus for use
in an injection molding machine.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art Known is, for example, an
injection molding machine as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln Kokai
Publication NO. 2001-191383.
[0005] An injection molding machine needs various kinds of control
in the injection molding, such as the injection, measuring, mold
opening and closing, extruding, application of temperature.
[0006] The injection molding machine of the above PUBLICATION
performs necessary control in the injection molding by a specific
control device usable only for the injection molding machine.
[0007] In the injection molding machine, how to control an actuator
in the injection, measuring, mold opening/closing and extrusion
operations is decided dependent upon a choice of whether an
electric operation type or a hydraulic type is used.
[0008] Thus, the use of such control elements differs according to
whether an electric operation type, a hydraulic type or a hybrid
type of these is used.
[0009] In the prior art, when the control target is an electric
operation type actuator, a dedicated control device has been used
and, when the control target is a hydraulic operation, a
corresponding special control device has been used.
[0010] In this way, the conventional injection molding device
always needs such a dedicated control device and it is difficult to
provide a better general-purpose machine of economic benefit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is accordingly the object of the present invention to
provide a control device for use in an injection molding machine
which, when a control target is changed, can obtain a better module
unit for each control element and readily handle such a situation
through a combination of those control modules and attain a better
general-purpose machine unit of higher economic benefit.
[0012] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
injection molding machine including heating a synthetic resin
material and, injects a predetermined amount of molten synthetic
resin material into a melted mold to be obtain molded product, the
machine comprising a human/machine interface device having a
built-in general-purpose operating system and configured to control
a display section, a plurality of control modules having a
dedicated microprocessor for each control element of the injection
molding machine, and a driver section configured to be controlled
by the control module and drive-control an actuator of the
injection molding machine, in which various kinds of injection
molding control can be performed through a specific combination of
various control modules.
[0013] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the
general description given above and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a structure of an electric operation type
injection molding machine according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control device of the
injection molding machine body according to the embodiment of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device of the
injection molding machine body when it is used as a hydraulic type
injection molding machine in the embodiment above; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device of the
injection molding machine body when it is used as a hybrid type
injection molding machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] One embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawing.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an electrically operated injection molding
machine.
[0021] In an injection molding machine body 1, an injection screw 4
is so arranged as to be inserted into a cylindrical barrel 3
equipped with a hopper 2.
[0022] The injection screw 4 is rotatable in the barrel 3 and
freely movable forward and backward.
[0023] The barrel 3 communicates at its rear portion with the
hopper 2. A synthetic resin material is fed into the barrel through
the hopper 2. A plurality of heaters, not shown, are arranged at
predetermined intervals on the outer periphery side of the barrel
3. These heaters are adapted to heat the outer periphery of the
barrel and melt the resin material thus fed.
[0024] The barrel 3 has an injection nozzle 5 at its forward end to
allow the synthetic resin material thus melted to be injected.
[0025] The barrel 3 has its heating temperature controlled by the
plurality of heaters to allow the melting degree of the melted
resin material to become gradually greater toward the forward end
of the barrel 3.
[0026] The injection screw 4 is rotatably driven by a servomotor 6
for injection and moved forward and backward. That is, the
servomotor 6 for injection transmits its rotation to a ball screw
shaft 11 through a transmission mechanism comprising a pulley 7, a
timing belt 8 and a timing pulley 9.
[0027] The ball screw shaft 11 is rotatably provided in a servo
bracket 10.
[0028] The ball screw shaft 11 is set in a ball nut 12. The ball
nut 12 is fixed by bolts to a thrust box 13.
[0029] The injection screw 4 is rotatably joined at its rear end
portion to the thrust box 13 through an S shaft and bearing not
shown.
[0030] The S shaft is rotatably connected to the thrust box 13 and
mounted to a timing pulley 14.
[0031] Reference numeral 17 shows a servomotor for measuring and
the servomotor 17 is attached at its rotation shaft to a pulley
16.
[0032] A timing belt 15 is provided between the timing pulley 14
and the pulley 16.
[0033] The timing pulley 14, timing belt 15 and pulley 16
constitute a transmission mechanism.
[0034] The servomotor 17 moves the injection screw 4 material which
is to be injected forward, determing an amount of the melted resin.
The servomotor 17 transmits its rotation to the S shaft as set out
above through the associated transmission mechanism as set out
above to allow the injection screw 4 to be rotated.
[0035] The injection screw 4 allows its forward moving position to
be decided by an amount of synthetic resin material injected.
[0036] In the forward position of the barrel 3 are provided a metal
mold halves 18 and a device 19 for opening/closing and clamping the
metal molds.
[0037] When the melted resin material is injected from the
injection nozzle 5, the injection nozzle 5 is pushed into a nozzle
inlet 18a of one metal mold half 18. In this state, the injection
screw 4 allows its forward end 4a to be moved forward and, by doing
so, allows the resin material which is melted in the barrel 3 to be
injected from the injection nozzle 5. Thus, the resin material is
charged into a cavity 20 defined by the metal mold halves 18.
[0038] The device 19 has a fixing plate 21 that supports one of the
metal mold halves 18. A movable plate 23 is provided, which holds a
tie bar 22 that in turn supports the fixing plate 21. The movable
plate 23 can move toward and away from the fixing plate 21.
[0039] The device 19 attaches the movable plate 23 to a toggle
mechanism support plate 25 through a toggle type mold clamping
mechanism 24.
[0040] A servomotor 26 is provided on the toggle mechanism support
plate 25 to drive the toggle type clamping mechanism 24. Reference
numeral 27 shows a mold thickness adjusting mechanism. The
mechanism 27 adjusts a mold thickness when the toggle type mold
clamping mechanism 24 effects the mold clamping operation.
[0041] In the electrical operation type injection molding machine
thus structured, the servomotor 26 is first driven for mold
clamping. By doing so, the metal molds 18 start their mold closing
operation. And the injection nozzle 5 of the barrel 3 is pushed
into the nozzle 18a of the mold halves 18.
[0042] Then, the measuring servomotor 17, while being rotated,
moves the injection screw 4 forward and effects the measuring of
the melted resin material injected. Then, the servomotor 6 for
injection rotates the injection screw 4 to allow the injection of
the melted resin.
[0043] The barrel 3 injects the melted resin from the injection
nozzle 5 and charges the melted resin into the cavity 20 of the
metal molds 18.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, a control device of the electrical
operation type injection molding machine body 1 includes a main
control section 31 for controlling each part, a sequence processing
section 32 and a servo command section 33.
[0045] The main control section 31 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.,
and allows the management and monitoring of the injection molding
machine body 1.
[0046] The sequence processing section 32 has a CPU, ROM, RAM,
etc., and allows the control of the operation sequence of the
injection molding machine body 1.
[0047] The servo command section 33 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and
allows the control of the injection servomotor 6 and measuring
servomotor 17.
[0048] The main control section 31, sequence processing section 32
and servo command section 33 are electrically connected together
through a bus line 34.
[0049] The servo command section 33 controls a servo amplifier 35
in a driver section and drives the injection servomotor 6. The
rotation and current value of the injection servomotor 6 are
detected by a detection section 36.
[0050] The servo command section 33 receives a signal from the
detection section 36 and detects the moved position and rotation
speed of the injection screw 4 and the current value of the motor.
Further, the servo command section 33 performs feedback control
based on the thus detected moved position and rotation speed and
current value and thus controls the servomotor 6.
[0051] The servo command section 33 controls the servo amplifier in
the driver section and drives the servomotor 17 for measurement.
The rotation and current value of the measuring servomotor 17 are
detected by a detection section 38.
[0052] The servo command section 33 receives a signal from the
detection section 38 and detects the moved position and rotation
speed of the injection screw 4 and current value of the servomotor.
Further, the servo command section 33 performs feedback control
based on the moved position and rotation speed and current value of
the servomotor and controls the servomotor 17 for measurement.
[0053] An I/O 40, etc., is electrically connected via I/O bus 39 to
the sequence processing section 32.
[0054] The main control section 31, sequence processing section 32
and servo command section 33 each constitute a control module with
a dedicated microprocessor for each control element.
[0055] The main control section 31 includes a communication
interface section and, to the communication interface section, an
HMI section 41 as a human/machine interface device is electrically
connected through a LAN 42 such as Ethernet (registered trademark
name).
[0056] The HMI section 41 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and
general-purpose OS (operating system).
[0057] The HMI section 41 is comprised of, for example, a personal
computer and connected to a display section 43 with a touch panel
on a liquid crystal display screen to allow the display screen to
be controlled.
[0058] The main control section 31 is connected by a cable 45 to an
operation panel section 44 with a plurality of mechanical operation
switches provided on it.
[0059] The main control section 31 is connected by a cable 46 to
the touch panel of the display section 43.
[0060] The main control section 31 is connected by a cable 48 to a
temperature control section 47. The temperature control section 47
controls the heating temperature by the plurality of heaters
arranged on the outer periphery side of the barrel 3.
[0061] The display section 43 allows the display control by the HMI
section 41 and allows its touch panel to be controlled by the main
control section 31.
[0062] The display section 43 outputs a key signal to the main
control section 31 by finger-touching any corresponding key on the
touch panel on the display screen.
[0063] In such an arrangement, the main control section 31 controls
the temperature control section 47. The temperature control section
47 controls the heating temperature by the plurality of heaters to
allow the melting of the synthetic resin material charged from the
hopper 2 into the barrel 3.
[0064] When the resin material is charged from the injection nozzle
5 of the barrel 3 into the cavity 20, the sequence processing
section 32 and servo command section 33 are controlled.
[0065] First, the servo command section 33 controls the servo
amplifiers 37 and drives the measuring servomotor 17. The
servomotor 17 rotates the injection screw 4 to move the melted
resin forward and determine the melted resin amount injected from
the barrel 3.
[0066] Then the injecting servomotor 6 is driven to, while rotating
the injection screw 4, move the resin forward. The injection screw
4 pushes the melted resin into the injection nozzle 5 through the
forward end 4a. By doing so, the mold cavity 20 is filled with the
melted resin which is injected from the injection nozzle 5 past the
nozzle inlet 18a of the mold halves 18.
[0067] When the filling of the melted resin material is finished,
the device 19 is operated for the closing and clamping of the mold
halves 18, and the mold halves 18 are moved apart from the barrel
3. The device 19 opens the metal molds and a molded product is
taken out from the metal mold halves 18.
[0068] This is an operation for the electrical operation type
injection molding machine. It is possible to use a hydraulic type
injection molding machine in place of the electrical operation type
injection molding machine.
[0069] In the case of the hydraulic type injection molding machine,
use is made of a hydraulic driver for relief/flow control. It is,
therefore, not necessary to use the injection servomotor 6 and
measuring servo motor 17.
[0070] A control device of the hydraulic type injection molding
machine body does not use the servo command section 33 and servo
amplifiers 35, 37 connected to the section 33 as well as the
injection servomotor 6, measuring servomotor 17 and so on.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 3, the control device disconnects, from a
circuit, the servo command section 33 and servo amplifiers 35, 37
connected to the section 33 as well as the injection servomotor 6
and measuring servomotor 17 and so on and, instead, connects a
hydraulic I/O 51 to a bus line 34. In this case, the hydraulic I/O
51 is connected to hydraulic drivers 52 and 53.
[0072] The hydraulic driver 52 moves, forward and backward, the
injection screw 4 which injects the molted resin, while, on the
other hand, the hydraulic driver 53 moves, forward and backward,
the injection screw which also measures an amount of melted resin
injected.
[0073] Where the injection molding machine is changed from the
electric operation type injection molding machine to the hydraulic
type injection molding machine, a change is made from the injection
screw 4 driven by the injection servomotor 6 to an injection screw
driven under a hydraulic pressure. As an actuator, use is made of
an entirely different structure.
[0074] That is, a barrel 3 of different structure is employed in
the hydraulic type injection molding machine compared to the
electrical operation type injection molding machine. That is, the
injection molding machine per se has to be wholly replaced.
[0075] However, the control device has a dedicated CPU each for the
main control section 31, sequence processing section 32 and servo
command section 33 and provides a control module, that is, a unit
modularized for each control element. Therefore, the main control
section 31, sequence processing section 32 and servo command
section 33 in the main control device are individually
exchangeable.
[0076] When, in this way, the injection molding machine is changed
from the electrical operation type to the hydraulic type, then the
servo command section 33 and so on are disconnected from an
associated circuit and, instead, the hydraulic I/O 51 is connected
to the bus line 34. The hydraulic I/O 51 is connected to hydraulic
drivers 52 and 53. If, in this case, the sequence processing
section 32 differs in the electrical operation type injection
molding machine and in the hydraulic type injection molding
machine, use is made of a hydraulic type sequence processing
section 32.
[0077] Even if a change is made from the electrical operation type
injection molding machine to the hydraulic type injection molding
machine, it is not necessary to wholly replace the control device
and, in this case, an exchange may be made in control module
units.
[0078] It is also possible for the injection molding machine to use
any proper electrical operation type/hydraulic type combination as
a hybrid type injection molding machine.
[0079] In the hybrid type injection molding machine, a control
device is of such a type that, as shown in FIG. 4, a hydraulic I/O
51 is connected to a bus line 34 as in the control device shown in
FIG. 2. The hydraulic I/O 51 is connected to the hydraulic drivers
52 and 53. Further, a sequence processing section 32 is replaced by
a hybrid type. As is evident from the above, it is not necessary to
replace the control device as a whole.
[0080] Incidentally, the sequence processing section 32 has
initially a built-in sequence control program corresponding to an
electrical operation, a hydraulic and a hybrid type and it is so
constructed as to be able to select any corresponding sequence
control program.
[0081] According to such a structure, the sequence processing
section 32 is not replaced by a new one and it can be readily
handled by selecting any sequence control program.
[0082] As evident from the above, even if the injection molding
machine is changed to any of the electrical operation, hydraulic
and hybrid type, the control device need not be changed as a whole
and it is possible to readily handle this case through the change
of any possible control module combination. By doing so, the
resultant control device provides an excellent general-purpose
device with a higher economic advantage.
[0083] Further, this control device can readily achieve an enhanced
processing capability, as required, by the individual exchange of
the main control section 31 and sequence processing section 32.
* * * * *